Hair curler



Oct. 29, 1946, J ASHFORD' 2,410,144

HAIR CURLER Filed March 9, 1945 B15/ack 43h/brd f l Alg/3 Patented Oct. 219, 1946 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,410,144 HAIR CURLR Jack Ashford, Jackson Heights, N. Application March 9, 1945, Serial No. 581,786

2 Claims.

This invention relates to hair curlers, and more particularly to curlers of the type adapted to form a curl by winding of a strand of hair d therearound and permitting the curling device to remain in place, with the hair curled thereon, for a period of time to effect setting of the hair in curled formation.

` Curlers of this general class have heretofore been produced in a wide variety of forms and constructions, and are adapted to be used by individuals personally, or commercially by beauty parlor operators in producing curls. In using curlers of this type it is preferable to also moisten the strand of hair with suitable liquids for assisting in forming the curl, and/or causing the curl to become set. Such curlers may be used by beauty operators either with or without heat, and may also be employed in forming curls by what is now known as a cold permanent waving process. Such curlers, due to their peculiarities of construction, all necessitate partial or complete uncurling of the formed curls in the process of removing the curlers from the hair. This practice tends to destroyto alarge extent the permanency of the curl thus formed, and results in greatly increasing the size thereof. Furthermore, such curlers due to their construction and manner of use require a substantial amount of time in effecting their removal from the curled strand of hair, and necessitate fingering of the curl formed by the curlers in an attempt to restore the curl to a proper curled formation. By such procedure it is a practical impossibility to obtain a iinished curl which isz relatively set in form and of a size approximating the size of the curl when initially wound on the curler.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved curler of the character indicated which is constructed and arranged so as to permit quick Vand easy removal thereof from the curl of hair formed thereon, without necessitating unwinding of the curl.

. Another object is to provide an improved curler of the character described which is constructed and arranged Vso as to permit obtaining finished curls of substantially the same size as when the hair is wound in curled formation around the curler.

A further object is to provide an improved curlerof the character indicated, having a main body portion formed of two detachably connectible members, constructed and arranged so as to be quickly and easily removed from the curl of hair formed around the body without necessitating unwinding of the curl.

Still another object is to provide an improved curler of the character indicated wherein the main body portion, about which the strand of hair is wound in curled formation, comp-rises two detachably connecti-ble members and wherein one of the members/may be quickly and easily separated from the other while the curl of hair re- A mains in curled form around the other so as tov permit the remaining member to be reversely rotated in uncurling direction so as to produce a curl of a size larger than that initially formed when wound around the body of the curler.

Other objects and advantages of the curler embodying the present invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic View of the human head showing the curler embodying the present invention positioned with respect to a strand of hair, preparatory to winding the hair therearound for forming a curl;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the curler embodying the present invention, shown in assembled relation."

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the two' cooperating detachably co'nnectible members constituting the main body of the curler.

Figure 5 is a perspectivev view of the holding clip adapted to be associated with one of the body members.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the retaining member associated with the main body of the curler foi` releasably maintaining the strand of hairin curled lform on the curler body.

As above stated, the curler embodying the present invention is capable of use by individuals kfor personal hair curling, and are also adapted for convenient practical use by beauty parlor operators in the'process of forming curls. In either case it is preferable that a plurality of the'curlers be utilized to form curls around different portions of the head, and the curlers are permitted to remain in place for a period of time in order to effect proper setting of the hair in curled formation. When the devices are ,used by beauty parlor operators, a plurality of the curlers are positioned at the desired places on the head at which the curls are to be formed, and then if desired the cold wave processmay be applied, or the heat process may be employed, after which the curlers may be quickly and easily removed as will hereinafter be described, leaving the curls insubstantially the same size and preseticondition as assumed when wound on the curlers.

y stem I5.

The curler embodying the present invention includes a main body portion indicated generally at A, of generally elongated formation, composed of two separate members indicated at Ill and Il, constructed and arranged so as to be detachably connected together in axial relation. In the construction as illustrated, the outer end of the body member I I is formed with a button shaped undercut head Ill, and the opposite end of said member terminates in an extension or stem portion l5, of relatively small diameter and of substantially cylindrical form, adapted to be telescoped into an opening I6 extending axially throughout the entire length of the other body member I when said body members are assembled in operative relation.

The outer or lateral surfaces of the two members I0 and I I, constituting the main body when assembled, are formed so that the main intermediate portion thereof is of gradually reducing cross section as it approaches the middle of the length thereof, so that the cooperating outer surfaces of the two members I0 and II, individually are of substantially frusto conical formation. This construction in effect constitutes a trough and tends to direct and confine a strand of hairin position when wound around said body. It will be observed that when the two body members I0 and II are assembled, the terminal portion Ia of the stem I5, projects a short distance beyond the outer end of the body member Ill, as may be clearly seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, and constitutes an anchorage element. In order to insure that the two members l0 and I I, when telescoped together, may be rotated as a unit for winding a strand of hair therearound, the portion of the stem I5, immediately adjacent its connection to the member II, is formed with an enlargement, I5b, of polygonal cross section, herein shown as square. The opening I6 of the other body member I8, at its inner end, terminates in a socket Ib, corresponding generally in form and size to said enlargement |51) of said Thus, when the members III and II are telescoped together, said enlargement Ib of the stem I5 and the socket Iib are caused to be interengaged and serve to key said members I9 and II, together so that they may be positively rotated together as a unit. To facilitate rotating said body A, as a unit, the outer end portion of member II, adjacent said head I4, is formed with serrated or roughened portions IIa to constitute convenient finger gripping surfaces.

In order to retain the strand of hair in curled or Wound formation around the'body A of the curler, any suitable form of retaining means may be employed, and as herein shown said retaining means is in the form of an elongated strap I1', preferably of resilient material, such as rubber, having one end formed with an opening I3 adapted to be force fitted over the under-cut head I4 on the body member II, so as to constitute a disengageable but secure connection of the retaining member to said body member II. When the two detachably connectible members I and II are assembled and a strand of hair is wound around the body A, the retaining member I1 is stretched over the curled strand of hair on the body and the anchoring opening I9 of the strap is drawn over and seated on the terminal portion I 5a of the stem I5 of the body .member II, as

clearly seen in Figure 2 of the drawing. TheV portion of thestrap I'I, beyond the opening I9, as indicated at 20, constitutes a finger grip portion to facilitate the removal of the retaining member from retaining relation.

In order to facilitate the initial gripping of the strand of hair, preparatory to winding around the body A, I provide an elongated clip 24, of yoke formation at one end, comprising a pair of arms 25, the outer ends of which are provided with a pair of inwardly projecting nubbins 26, adapted to be spring pressed into a pair of diametrically oppositely located recesses 28, formed in the outer end of the body member IB, so that the clip member 24 becomes hingedly connected to said body member ID. The clip member 24 may be understood to be of conventional form and is ol' arcuate formation in cross section so as to conform somewhat to the curved contour of the body A. Said clip has the main portion of its length provided with a plurality of apertures 29, the purpose of which is to permit the passage of moisture or liquid therethrough into contact with the portion of the strand of hair embraced between the clip and the body A in the process of operating on a strand of hair to produce a curl.

In using the curler embodying the present invention it isv first assembled, as seen in Figure l of the drawing, and positioned with respect to the strand of hair to be curled so that the end portions of said strand of hair are gripped between the clip member 24 and the body A. The strand of hair is then curled around the body and clip, and the retaining member I1 is then placed in retaining relation, extending over the curl of hair and attached to the body A, in the manner as represented in Figure 2 of the drawing, in which position the strand of hair curled around the body and clip will be securely retained Vin curled formation on said body. The strand of hair may be subject to proper liquid treatment, either before or after winding on the body, to facilitate curling and/or setting. After the curl acquires a relatively set formation, the curler may be quickly and easily removed by disengaging Vtheretaining member I from the terminal end portionY I5ct of the stem of the body member II and the two body members I@ and II then may be axially separated so as to permit the curl to remain, without deformation or alter ation in the form and size that it assumed when wound on the curler body. Thus, by the use of my improved curler, it is possible to obtain finished curls of greatly increased permanency of form by eliminating the heretofore necessary practice of unwinding the curled strand of hair from the curler in order to effect removal of the curler therefrom.

While the curler embodying the present invention has great utility for individual or personal use, it also has great utility for use by beauty parlor operators in the process of permanent waving of hair, either by what is known as the heat process or cold wave process. By forming the apertures 29 in the clip member, it is possible in the application of various liquids or solutions to the curl of hair to insure that a portion of the liquid or solution comes into contact with the portion of the strand of hair clipped between the clip and the body member.

It is to be understood that the body members Illand II may be composed of any suitable material, suchA as plastic, metal, wood or various other compositions, and it will be apparent that Various forms of detachable connections of the two members constituting the main body may be employed. For example, the stem I5 of member II, may be so dimensioned and the hole I6 datttm-atada to provide an enclosed telescopic connection of the two members, and wherein. a: suitable nubbinjmay be formed as an integral part'of the outer end of .the body member Il, to be engaged bythe free apertured end of. the retainingstrap Il. c In-lieu of the connection of the body mem-V bers- IQ and llcas shown, said membersmay be screw threaded together. n

One important advantageof the particular construction herein shown resides in the fact that theftwobodymcmbers Eiland Il may be quicklyandjeasily separated without the rnecessity of first manually disengaging the retaining member Il. It will be apparent that as thebody members l and H are engaged at opposite ends and are pulled in a direction to separate them axially, the terminal extension portion Ia of the stem l5 becomes disengaged from the aperture i9 of the retaining strap ll, and releases the strap, thus making the matter of removing the curler from the curl of hair quick and easy, requiring a minimum amount of time, While at the same time resulting in a finished curl of substantially the same size as initially formed when wound around the body of the curler, and which curl, due to the avoidance of unwinding, as has heretofore been the practice by the use of prior curlers, results in greater permanency of formationv of the curl. Furthermore', the construction is such that if desired, after disengagements the retaining strap Il, only one of the members constituting the main body of the curler, may be removed from within the curl, and the other member, and preferably the member lil carrying the clip 2li, may be rotated in a direction to unwind the curl so as to produce a curl of a desired size.

While, as above stated, the novel curler embodying the present invention is adapted for use by individuals personally, or by beauty parlor op erators for producing curls, it is of especial advantage for use in forming curls by what is known as a cold permanent waving process. In order to obtain a better understanding of the advantages resulting frorn such use of my novel curler, a comparison` will now be made in carrying out the process of cold permanent Waving by the use of curlers of the type heretofore available and by the curler embodying the present invention.

Up to a certain point in the process the steps are the same in the use of both the prior type of curler and the curler embodying the present invention. In producing a cold type Vof permanent wave a suitable curling solution is applied to the hair, either before or after the hair is wrapped around the curler. The purpose of this solution is to condition the hair and assist in forming curls. The strand of moistened hair wound around the curler, is permitted to remain in such curledvcondition for a period of time,`

after which rinsing water is applied to the strand of hair wound on the curler. neutralizing solution is applied to the strand of hair wound on the curler, the purpose of which is to chemically offset or neutralize the curling chemical first employed and to assist in'setting or making permanent the hair in the curled or Then a suitable strandof hairfin `order to remove the curler, which tends to destroy the curled formation of hairas existed onthe'curler. The strand of hair in this condition assumes a semi-straight or flattened wavy form, at which time a second neutralizing solution is applied, andthe strand of hai-r is fingered to again impar-t a curled formation thereto. By virtue of such steps the strand complete curled formation. The curls are then rinsed and dried.l yBy virtue of these steps the curls produced denitely lack permanency and .the necessary tendency to retain shape and size.

TheA subsequent steps of the cold waving process when using the curler embodying the present invention, consists in removing the two piece curler construction from the wound curl in the manner heretofore described, leaving the wound curl of hair in substantially the same shape and size as assumed when wound on the curler. A second application of neutralizing solution is made to the curl in this form, which tends to permanently set the curl in true curl formation. After setting of the curls they may be rinsed and dried. Such steps result in producing a curl of great permanency, resiliency and a tendency to retain and assume the position, size and conformation assumed when initially wound on the curler. These same advantages are also attained when the curl is enlarged by partial unwinding as above described.

Another advantage resulting from the use of the curler embodying applicants invention, in the application of the cold permanent waving process, is in the formation of so-called pin curls. After removal of the two piece curler device the curled strand of hair is grasped by the fingers to reposition it with respect to the head in a desired manner and location, and the curl may be aiixed in such position with hair pins or the like. In this fixed position the curl is then subjected to a second application of neutralizing solution so as to set the pin curl, relatively permanently, in the size, shape and position then assumed. 'Ihe pin curls may then be rinsed and dried. 'I'his process of forming pin curls is not possible when f using conventional, heretofore available types of curlers.

It wil1 be apparent that if the hair is set in pin lcurls and neutralized in that position, it accomplishes two main objectives; one it makes nger waving unnecessary, and two, if the hair is subsequently dried without .first resetting, it will be found to have far less relaxation at a later time.

Although I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is capable of various modifications-and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiments herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A hair curler of the character described, comprising an elongated body formed of two separate members adapted to be detachably connected together in axial relation, one of said mem bers having an axial bore extending the entire length thereof, the other member having a kstem adapted to be telescoped through said bore of said one member, when the members are as- 7 elongated strap of yieldable material connected at one end to the outer end of said other member and detachably connectible to said terminal end of said other member, when said members are operably connected together for releasably maintaining said members in such connected relation.

, 2. A hair curler of the character described, comprising an elongated body formed of two separate members adapted to be detachably connected together in axial relation, one of said members having an axial bore extending the entire length thereof, the other member having an elongated stem at one end thereof adapted to be telescoped through said bore of said one member `When the members, are assembled in operable relation with the terminal end of said stem projecting a short distance beyond the outer end of said one member, said stem and bore having cooperating features adapted to be engaged when said members are axially assembled for keying said members together for rotation as a unit, and an elongated strap of yieldable material rconnected at one end to the outer end of said other member and detachably connectible to said terminal end of said other member, when said members are operably connected together, for releasably maintaining said members in such connected relation.

JACK ASHFORD. 

